Allison Wisniewski has been practicing restorative justice in higher education for over three decades. She has served students in various roles from program coordinator, assistant director, director, dean of students, and Title IX Coordinator at a large public system and minority serving institution. She holds multiple certifications in Title IX and conduct, along with sustained dialogue training. Adjudicating thousands of cases, Allison strongly believes that restorative justice can assist in the holistic development of communities.
Over the years, her most memorable and successful interactions with students have been through restorative justice practices. As a crisis responder, often witnessing students at their most vulnerable and most destructive, she was left with an array of emotions and feelings that were not tended to. It was only through the restorative justice process that, as the professional, she was also able to find closure. The restorative justice process is one of the few processes that provides a sense of clarity for those that are managing the process. Allison believes in the ability to be heard and healed not only for students but also for those serving in higher education roles.
Allison’s current portfolio includes responsibilities as Campus Dean of Students & Title IX Coordinator providing direct supervision and leadership to seven student-facing offices. Distinguished successes include: the creation of nine new offices to meet the changing needs of students, managed budgets upwards of $15 million, oversaw 300,000 sq ft residential facilities and 95,000 sq ft student and conference center both daily operations and renovation projects, assisted in the re-design and deployment of the general education requirements for three undergraduate schools and over 40 programs, ensured compliance with transfer and accreditation agreements, assisted in the creation of the Gender Studies Major with full faculty and Board of Governors approval, assisted with four different Middle States Accreditation processes, led and influenced teams comprised of various stakeholders across divisions with outstanding success achieving objectives, facilitated strategic action plans for departments and campus, and engaged collaboratively with all stake holders through a trauma-informed lens to enhance student success. Continuously highlighted in assessments is Allison’s service and advocacy which illustrate her ability to manage diverse teams to achieve desired goals, with a noteworthy 92% employee retention rate across three different unions over two decades. Allison is a seasoned event planner of over 1,000 events from small intimate programs to festivals with over 50,000 of various diverse constituents ranging from student though executive level to public.
Allison has been involved with the academic success of our students both as an in-classroom and online instructor and administrator tasked to create a collaborative process to better academic offerings. Allison’s work with student veterans generated an acknowledgment that significant issues with prior academic course work existed and through collaboration with the faculty senate, a policy was developed that provided credit for military service, review of Joint Services Transcript, and additional seamless transfer options. This work was recognized statewide and became known to state legislators, which yielded significant legislative action.
Allison has opportunities to create policy, make revisions, create programs, complete investigations, provide support measures for students within undergraduate, graduate, medical and law programs. She has also trained and supported faculty, staff and volunteer advocates, advisors, and investigators. She holds significant training and certifications in Title IX and ADA/504, including understanding legal ramifications, process, and higher education responsibilities along with case management, restorative justice, high profile cases, engaging with parents and families, and creating and disseminating information clearly and effectively. Notably, Allison served as the campus PI and administered multiple campus climate surveys recognized by the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault. The surveys provided an understanding of student experiences, the data from which was used to develop an action plan to improve the prevention of and response to interpersonal violence. Allison’s expertise assisted the university to receive a six year, federally funded Victims of Crime Act grant project, which focused on developing a comprehensive model to provide holistic support to all students.